Tuesdays with Corti: Jeff Award Eligible

Holy smokes! There is a lot of excitement going on here! Sunday night’s final performance of 42ND STREET was breathtaking! A tremendous achievement for Director Rachel Rockwell, Choreographer Tammy Mader, Conductor/Music Director Doug Peck and Designers Kevin Depinet (sets), Greg Hoffman (lights), Theresa Ham (costumes), Palmer Jankens (sound) and our starry cast led by Larry Adams, Cathy Lord, Laura Savage and Tyler Hanes! The fleet tap dancing feet of the chorus girls and boys stopped the show a good two or three times!

During the final Sunday matinee, to top off the high spirits of the day, it was officially announced that Paramount Theatre’s Broadway Series became eligible for The Joseph Jefferson Awards for excellence in Chicago Theatre. Paramount had been beyond the geographical boundaries set by the award committee for years, and the decision was made to break new ground and include us for award consideration beginning next season! Thank you, Jeff Award Committee! I didn’t know if this was ever going to be something that could happen. And if it did, that it would be something that would have taken several more years. It is hugely generous of the Jeff Committee to add us to their roster of theaters and coverage of what must be hundreds and hundreds of shows they attend each year for award consideration. The most meaningful part of all this for me, and I know I speak for Tim Rater as well, is that the fine quality of work in design and performance will now be acknowledged on a scale on which it has never been before, something which everyone working here so beautifully and diligently deserves. I am so pleased and excited for our actors, designers and production teams to have received this recognition during only our third season! This also endorses the enthusiasm and support of our audience and our subscribers and will give The Jeffs a broader audience and reach as well! How in one day our fantastic production of 42ND ST. came to an end as a new era for Paramount has begun is not lost on me. Overwhelmed with gratitude and pride for everyone, I humbly serve and have my focus on our next show and our next season.

I have so much more to say, but I am late again and today is all about auditions for one of Season #4’s shows (I’ll be ducking into auditions to see the dancing) and the closer to Season #3, RENT (continuing choreography with Katie Spelman)! Principal music rehearsal for RENT begins Thursday!